State has no power to ban iron ore exports: Centre

The union government today informed the Karnataka high court that the state government has no power to ban iron ore exports but has powers to check illegal mining and illegal transportation of minerals.

Additional solicitor general Raveendran made this submission before a Division bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and justice Abdul Nazir when it heard a batch of petitions challenging the state banning export of iron ore.

"Whatever illegal mining and illegal transportation of iron ore is taking place, the state has the right to check and curb it under section 23 (c) of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act (MMRDA) but it has no right to ban export of iron ore which falls under the Foreign Trade Act of the central government," Raveendran submitted.

Raveendran said if the state government wants any assistance to curb illegal mining, the central government is ready to cooperate in a number of ways including providing satellite imageries and geo positioning systems.

In Andhra Pradesh, the illegal mining scam was entrusted to CBI for probe...."it depends on the government here" (whether it wants to seek the assistance of CBI to investigate it)," he said apparently referring to BJP government's refusal to a probe by the central investigating agency.

The bench reserved its judgment on the petitions filed by owners of mines.